Dustmop and dustmop frames



Oct. 13, 1964 M. A. ZELINKOFF DUSTMOP AND DUSTMOP FRAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTOR. MILTON A .ZEUNh'OFF A WPAEX Oct. 13, 1964M. A. ZELINKOFF 3,152,348

DUSTMOP AND DUSTMOP FRAMES Filed July 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w \a $5 V7 w 0 m k LQRNE 9 if LO Q Q E N & & 6 QB QM wi N & T. I g a a UnitedStates Patent Ofifice 3,152,348 Fat-elated Get. 13, 1964 AND '"JUEETMGPif, 345 N. 82., Wis Eta, Kans.

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This invention relates to dustmops and dustrnop frames therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a single dustmop frameprovided with improved means to permit the dustmop to be used either asa full swivel controlled mop, or for rigid action for sweeping.Heretofore two frames were required, one for swivel action and one forrigid action.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dustmop frame of thecharacter described in which the dustmop head may be placed at any anglejust by turning the handle, and without flopping around like ordinaryswivel frames heretofore in use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a dustmop frameof the character described, a dustrnop head having a longitudinal,straight round portion located centrally relative to the ends of thehead and between the front and rear of as head, a clamp swivellyengaging said round portion for rotation about the axis thereof, and aconnector to which the dust mop handle may be screwed, mounted on theclamp for rotation on an axis at right angles to the axis of said roundportion, with a single screw bolt attaching said connector to the clampand said clamp to said round portion.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a dustrnop frame ofthe character described, a clamp comprising a pair of separate clampplates which may be easily assembled with said screw bolt and connector.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a dustmop frameof the character described comprising a dustmop head made of a piece ofwire stock forming a loop with front and rear parallel portions andround ends, and flat cross-bars interconnecting the front and rearportions, and the rear portion having an inset providing the centrallylocated portion to which the clamp is swivelled (with the connectorswivelled to the clamp), and braces removably attached to screwsfastened to the cross-bars and having means to embrace the handle andhold it in a rigid position relative to the head, for sweeping.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a strong anddurable dustmop frame which shall be relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, easy to manipulate, in which all parts are easilyreplaceable, which shall be easy to use and yet practical and eficientto a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrativeembodiment of this invention,

FlG. 1 is a top perspective view of a dustrnop frame with dustmopattached thereto, and embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dustmop frame with the braces removedand with the handle and its connector swung down to the plane of thehead and at right angles thereto;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the dustmop frame with the handleheld in rigid position by the braces;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

PK}. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 1;

FlG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 99 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a partial top view of the dustmop frame head, connector andclamp, with the connector swung down to the head and in alignmenttherewith; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a dustrnop frame embodying a modifiedform of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 19 designates a dustmop frameembodying the invention, and 11 designates a dustrnop to be mounted inthe head 12 of said frame.

The dustmop head 12 comprises a looped member 13 which may be made ofround wire stock such as onequarter inch plated steel. Member 13 has afront longitudinal portion 14, from the ends of which extendsemicircular portions ILS. Extending from said semi-circular portions 15are aligned similar rear portions 16. Extending from the inner ends ofportions 16 are parallel, similar portions 17 interconnected by alongitudinal portion 13 which is centrally located between the ends 15and centrally between portions 14 and 16. Member 13 is all in one plane.

interconnecting the portions 16 with portion 14 are cross-bars 2tlocated in spaced relation to the ends 15 of member 13. Each cross-bar29 has an elongated top wall 21 from the ends of which extendrolled-over portions 22 extending around portions 14 and 16 and crimpedthereto to prevent movement of the cross-bar relative to member 13.Extending down from the sides of top wall 21 are reinforcing flanges 23located between portions 14 and 16. Each top wall 21 has a centralopening 24. A screw 25 having a lower head 26 and an upwardly extendingshank 27 is fixed to each top wall by passing the shank upwardly throughthe hole 24 and Welding the head 26 to the underside of top wall 21. Thepurpose and use of the screws 25 will be explained hereinafter.

Rotatably engaging portion 18 of member 13 is a combination clamp andconnector 30 comprising a clamp 31 and a connector 31a. The clamp 31comprises a pair of opposed clamp plates 32, 33, which may be made ofmetal. Clamp plate 32 has a wall 34 formed with a through opening 35.Extending from the lower end of wall 34 is a part-cylindrical portion 36of curved crosssection to engage one side of portion 18. Extendinginwardly from the sides of wall 34 are flanges 37. Extending inwardlyfrom the top of wall 34 is a tongue 38. Wall 34 has a semi-circularupper edge 39.

The other clamp member 33 has a wall 44) opposed to wall 34 and saidwalls 34, 4t? may taper slightly upwardly toward each other. Extendingfrom the lower end of Wall 46 is a transversely curved part-cylindricalportion 41 gripping an opposite side of portion 18. \Vall 40 has acentral hole 42 aligned with hole 35 in wall 34. Extending from thesides of wall 49 are flanges 43 contacting the inner sides of flanges37. The end of tongue 38 abuts or contacts the inner side of wall 49.The upper end 45 of wall 4% is also semi-circular and is aligned withsemicircular edge 32 of wall 34.

Extending through the openings 35, 42 i the shank 45 of a screw bolt4-7.

The connector 31a may be made of plastic or metal and has a slot 59 atits lower end in which the clamp plates 32, 33 fit, thereby forming apair of downwardly extending bifurcated cars 51, 52, one contactingclamp plate 32 and the other contacting clamp plate 33. Said ears 51, 52are formed with aligned through openings 51a,

and contacting the washer 55 holds the clamp and connector in assembledcondition.

I It will now be understood that the clamp may swivel on portion 18 ofthe looped member 13, and that the connector 31a may swivel about theaxis of bolt or screw 47. Said screw 47 is at right angles to saidportion 18 and spaced therefrom. Due to the double swivel action, thehead 12 has a universal relation to the connector 31a.

Said connector 31a comprises a socket 60 above the ears 51, 52. Socket60 has an upper larger opening 61 at the lower end of which is anannular shoulder 2, and below which is a coaxial internally threadedopening 63. The elongated mop handle 64 has a reduced externallythreaded lower end portion 65 engaging the threaded opening 63, andhaving a shoulder 66 contacting the shoulder 62.

The dustmop 11 may be of usual construction having a top wall 69 fromwhich extend pocket flaps 79 forming a pocket 79a to receive the loop13, depending mop fibers 71 and tie strings 72 to attach opposite sidesof the pocket together.

Means is provided to hold the handle in rigid position relative to thehead 12. To this end there is provided a pair of brace members 88, 31made of fiat bar stock.

Brace member 8% has a lower horizontal forwardly extending foot 82contacting the top of one cross-bar 29. Foot 82 is formed with anopening 83 through which the shank 27 of the screw on that cross-bar,passes. A wing nut 84 screwed to the shank 27 presses down on the foot82. The screw shank 27 may pass up between the pocket flaps 70.Extending upwardly from foot S2 is an upwardly and inwardly curvedportion 85 located in a plane inclined upwardly and rearwardly from saidfoot at an angle of about 60. Extendingupwardly from portion 85, in itsplane, but converging toward the handle 64, is a straight portion 86from which extends inwardly a horizontal portion 87, in the plane ofportions 85, S6 and having an intermediate forwardly offsetsemi-cylindrical portion 88 extending around the front of handle 64.Welded to portion 87 on Opposite sides of half-round portion 88, arescrews 90 projecting rearwardly.

Brace member 81 is similar to and symmetrically disposed relative tomember 843. Its upper end comprises a horizontal portion 91 contactingthe back of portion 87 of member 89, and formed with an intermediatesemicylindrical portion 92 passing around the back of the handle so thatthe handle is between and surrounded by portions 88, 92. Portions 91 areformed with holes 95 through which the screws 90 pass, and wing nuts 96are screwed to said screws.

It will now be understood that the brace members 89, 81, when applied,hold the handle rigidly at an angle of 60 to the head 12 and in avertical transverse plane, so that the dustmop device may be used forsweeping. The braces may be easily removed and re-applied. When thebraces are removed, the controlled swivelling action may be used.

In FIG. 11 there is illustrated a dustmop frame 11a similar to dustmopframe 11 except that its head 13a has two cross-bars 20a at each end,similar to the cross-bars 20. Also, the braces 89a, 81a are connected tothe outer cross-bars and in turn are connected by supplementary bracemembers 160 to the inner cross-bars 20a. Braces 100 each has a lowerfoot similar to the foot 82 of brace 80. The upper ends of braces 100may be screwed to braces 80a, 81a in any suitable manner. The connectionof braces 100 to braces 80a, 81a is preferably about halfway between theupper and lower ends of said latter braces.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an article 4: in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and asvarious changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein set forth, or shown in theaccompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a dustmop head comprising a loop having integralparallel front and rear portions, crossbars interconnecting saidparallel portions, a longitudinal, centrally located bar portion rigidwith said loop, a clamp having opposed spaced relatively movableportions provided with portions rotatably engaging opposite sides ofsaid bar portion, a connector comprising a one-part member having a slotat its lower end, forming integral ears receiving said opposed portionsof the clamp therebetween, a pivot bolt passing through aligned openingsin said opposed portions of the clamp and through openings in said ears,said connector having an upper socket portion to receive the end of amop handle for connection thereto, said pivot bolt being at a rightangle to said engaging portions and spaced therefrom, a pair of braceshaving feet contacting said cross-bars, means to detachably fix saidfeet to said cross-bars, said braces having integral, mutuallyoverlapping interconnecting parts formed with opposed half-roundportions to straddle opposite sides of a handle attached to saidconnector, and means to detachably attach said overlapping partstogether.

2. A dustmop comprising a dustmop head, a dustmop handle connector,means to connect said connector to said head for universal movement ofsaid connector relative to said head, said head including transverseportions at opposite sides of said connector, screws fixed to saidtransverse portions and extending upwardly therefrom, a dustmop handleattached to said connector, brace means, means on said head independentof said connector to rigidly and detachably connect said brace means tosaid head, said brace means including a pair of arms interconnected bymeans forming a central hole through which the dustmop handle attachedto the connector passes, and said means to connect said brace means tosaid head comprising offset apertured feet integral with the ends ofsaid arms for receiving said screws and nuts to hold the feet againstsaid transverse portion.

3. A dustmop comprising a dustmop head, a dustmop handle connector,means to connect said connector to said head for movement of saidconnector relative to said.

head about two axes at right angles one to the other, said meanspermitting universal movement of said connector with respect to saidhead, means to selective lock said connector against said universalmovement, said last named means comprising a pair of braces, each havinga foot portion rigidly and detachably secured to said head, said braceshaving upwardly extending portions from which extend overlappingcontacting portions formed with halfround portions through which adustmop handle attached to said connector may pass, and means to attachsaid overlapping, contacting portions together.

4. In combination, a dustmop head having a central bar portion rigidwith said head, a clamp having opposed spaced relatively movablyportions provided with portions rotatably engaging opposite sides ofsaid bar portion, a connector comprising a one part member having a slotat its lower end, forming integral ears receiving said opposed portionsof the clamp therebetween, a pivot bolt passing through aligned openingsin said opposed portions of the clamp and through openings in said ear,said connector having an upper socket portion to receive one end of amop handle for connection thereto, said pivot bolt being at right anglesto said engaging portions and spaced therefrom, a pair of braces, meanson said head independent of said connector, to detachably and rigidlyfix the lower ends of said braces to portions of said head on oppositesides said bar portion, and means interconnecting the upper ends of saidbraces and provided with means forming an opening through which thehandle connected to said socket may pass, to hold the handle rigid tosaid head, and said handle and connector being movable relative to saidhead about the axes of said bolt and bar, when the braces are detachedfrom said head and removed.

5. The combination of claim 4, said means interconnecting the upper endsof said braces including means to detach the braces from one another.

6. A dustmop comprising a dustmop head, a dustmop handle connector,means to connect said connector to said head for universal movement ofsaid connector relative to said head, a dustmop handle attached to saidconnector, brace means, means on said head, independent of saidconnector to rigidly and detachably attach said brace means to saidhead, said brace means having means to engage said handle and hold saidhandle and connector against said universal movement relative to saidhead with the handle inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said head,said head comprising opposed elongated portions interconnected by endportions, transverse members interconnecting said opposed portions atopposite sides of said connector, said brace means comprising integral,rigid portions removably fastened to said transverse members by saidattaching means, and interconnected by a portion forming a hole throughwhich the dustmop handle on the connector may pass.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,684,379 Anderson Sept. 18, 1928 1,807,434 Redlinger May 26, 19312,050,762 Preisset et al Aug. 11, 1936 2,240,628 Schulman May 6, 19412,581,141 Raptis Jan. 1, 1952 2,655,413 Russel Oct. 13, 1953 2,804,638Voshikian et a1 Sept. 3, 1957 2,903,730 Murphy Sept. 15, 1959 2,940,800Knapp June 14, 1960 2,943,892 Hessler et a1 July 5, 1960 3,012,264 NashDec. 12, 1961 3,031,707 Wiley et a1 May 1, 1962 3,082,460 Haivala Mar.26, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,094,927 France Dec. 15, 1954 74,263 FranceNov. 17, 1960 (1st addition to No. 1,171,669)

488,619 Italy Dec. 29, 1953 556,185 Belgium Apr. 15, 1957

3. A DUSTMOP COMPRISING A DUSTMOP HEAD, A DUSTMOP HANDLE CONNECTOR,MEANS TO CONNECT SAID CONNECTOR TO SAID HEAD FOR MOVEMENT OF SAIDCONNECTOR RELATIVE TO SAID HEAD ABOUT TWO AXES AT RIGHT ANGLES ONE TOTHE OTHER, SAID MEANS PERMITTING UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CONNECTORWITH RESPECT TO SAID HEAD, MEANS TO SELECTIVE LOCK SAID CONNECTORAGAINST SAID UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS COMPRISING A PAIROF BRACES, EACH HAVING A FOOT